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Sunflower Briefs

Thursday, February 1, 2024
filed under: Sunflower Briefs

USDA Releases Updated 2023 Crop Estimate
        In its latest estimate of 2023 sunflower production, released on January 12, USDA placed total production at 2.26 billion lbs, down 19% from 2022. The U.S. average yield of 1,786 lbs/ac increased 30 lbs from 2022. Planted area, at 1.32 million acres, was 22% below the previous year. Area harvested decreased by 21% from 2022, to 1.27 million acres.
        North Dakota, the nation’s leading sunflower state during 2023, produced 1.12 billion lbs, a decrease of 16% from 2022. Compared with 2022, planted area in North Dakota decreased 20%, while the average yield increased 77 lbs to 1,998 lbs/ac. Meanwhile, total production in South Dakota declined by 25% from 2022 to 817 million lbs. The state’s planted acreage — 495,000 — was down by 24% from the previous year. The average yield in South Dakota decreased 36 lbs from 2022, to 1,710 lbs/ac.
        United States 2023 production of oil-type sunflower varieties, at 1.97 billion lbs, decreased 23% from 2022. Compared with the previous year, harvested acres were down 25%, while and the average yield increased by 2 lbs to 1,747 lbs/ac. This level represents the second highest yield on record for the nation. Simultaneously, the average yield for oil-type sunflower varieties in North Dakota was a record high.
        Production of nonoil sunflower varieties was estimated at 297 million lbs in 2023, an increase of 23% over 2022. Area harvested, at 142,000 acres, was up 7% from 2022. The average yield increased by 206 lbs from 2022 to a record high 2,090 lbs/ac. The 2023 average yield for nonoil sunflower varieties in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota were record highs, while that of Kansas was a record low.

Colorado No-Till Conference Is February 6 & 7
        The Colorado Conservation Tillage Association’s 2024 High Plains No-Till Conference is scheduled for February 6 and 7 in Burlington, Colo. Along with keynote speakers Nicole Masters, Jerry Hatfield and Don Day, Jr., more than 45 learning sessions are scheduled. For more information on the February event or to register, visit www.HighPlainsNoTill.com.

Nuseed Hosts Sunflower University on Feb. 15
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Bringing together the latest innovations and research to the sunflower community, Nuseed will be hosting Sunflower University Production Academy, in-person and virtually, on February 15 at the Bismarck Hotel & Convention Center, 800 S. 3rd Street in Bismarck, N.D. This workshop will focus primarily on in-season production topics for a successful crop. Speakers will present from 9:00 a.m. to noon CST. For more information about Sunflower University Production Academy and to register, scan the QR code.
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45th NSA Research Forum Held in Fargo
        About 100 sunflower researchers, growers and industry personnel participated in the 45th annual Sunflower Research Forum on January 10 and 11 at the Holiday Inn in Fargo, N.D. Attendees heard USDA and university research reports relating to weed control, insect and disease management, breeding progress, blackbird control and other production-related topics. Copies of oral presentations from the 2024 event, as well as those from previous forums, can be found on the NSA website, sunflowernsa.com.

‘Getting It Right’ Zoom Event Set for Feb. 27
        The 2024 version of North Dakota State University’s Agricultural Extension Service annual ‘Getting It Right’ sunflower production Zoom conference is set for Tuesday, February 27. The program runs from 8:30 a.m. to noon CST.
        The 2024 program is supported by the National Sunflower Association. Topics to be covered range from plant nutrient and soil management, to updates for weed, disease and insect management, and sunflower marketing. Attendees will receive a list of several pertinent extension sunflower production resources as reference materials and are supplemental to the presentations. The presentations will be recorded and archived.
        Certified crop adviser continuing education credits will be available for meeting participants. Preregistration is required at: https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/ag-hub/getting-it-right. This site also has video links to the 2023 sunflower production meeting. All who preregister will receive emailed instructions on how to participate in the meeting, which is free of charge.

2024 Summer Seminar in Duluth on June 25-27
        The 2024 National Sunflower Association Summer Seminar is scheduled for June 25-27 at the Radisson-Duluth Harborview, Duluth, Minn. Watch for more details from NSA and in the March/April issue of The Sunflower. It’s the first time the NSA Summer Seminar has been held in Duluth, located at the very western tip of Lake Superior.
International Sunflower Conference in China
        The 21st International Sunflower Conference (ISC) will be held on August 20-24, 2024, in Bayannur, China. The conference is sponsored by the International Sunflower Association (ISA), whose membership consists of national societies and researchers with an interest in sunflower from more than 30 countries, including the United States.
      ISC 2024 is being sponsored by the Inner Mongolia Sunflower Association and Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, together with the People’s Government of Bayannaoer. It will be co-organized by the People’s Government of Wuyuan county, Sanrui Agritec. Co. Ltd, Chacha Food Co. Ltd and Sunboy Food Co. Ltd. Its theme is “Sunflower: Present Trends and Future Challenges,” with a focus on the present development and also the future perspective of sunflower under climate change and global economic integration background. The conference will also cover the latest findings related to the entire sunflower industry chain, such as sunflower germplasm resources, sunflower breeding techniques, biotic and abiotic stress resistance, trade and markets.
      For more information about the 2024 International Sunflower Conference, visit http://www.esanrui.com/isc.

Access Yield Trial Data on the NSA Website
          When deciding whether to plant NuSun or high-oleic hybrids on your farm, do some research to see which hybrids portend the best yields in your growing area. Yield trials conducted by USDA and universities are an important way for producers to look at a hybrid's performance in several locations, over several years and environments. Use this link to the NSA website — sunflowernsa.com — to view the latest public yield trial data: Yield Trials & Hybrid Disease Ratings.